Australian guitarist/visionary Rob Thomsett’s collected works – two LPs – will be combined into one package as the fourth release in Now Again Reserve, shipping this fall. Stream the album below.

Originally privately pressed in tiny numbers in Canberra in the mid-‘70s, Yaraandoo & Hara have become sought after examples of the best in progressive jazz/rock.

“Taking in impressionistic hazy instrumental jazz … muscular fusion moves, solo Mellotron pieces as heavenly as anything Beethoven or Handel ever concocted, extremely loose-limbed ethno-fusion soundscapes of the Don Cherry/Pharoah Sanders variety, film soundtracks … and electronic experimentalism … hair-raising, soul-searching beauty – with an overall dreamy, hazy quality that perhaps could only be written by an Australian fully conversant with the “Dreamtime” cultural feel for the myths and legends of the Outback.” – Julian Cope’s Head Heritage.

Yaraandoo: The Legend of the Southern Cross
Baiame: In the Beginning, Biame the All-Father also known as the Sky-King walked upon the Earth.
Moulding of Red Earth: Out of the red earth, he fashioned with hands two men and a woman.
Nameless Children: They lived and Baiame was pleased. He showed them how to live off plants and roots.
Drought – Killing: But there came a terrible drought and the once fertile land became barren. As the plants were dying, the men and the woman began to starve. In desperation, one man killed a kangaroo rat and he and the woman began to eat its flesh.
New Life – Refusal: As they became stronger they called to the remaining man to join them. Not wishing to go against the wishes of Baiame, he refused. Very weak, he staggered off into the red desert.
Shadow of Yaraan: When they had finished eating, the man and the woman started searching for their companion. They found him lying beside Yaraan – the great white gum tree.
Yowi – The Spirit of Death: As they approached him they saw a huge, black figure with red eyes lift him gently and place him in the fork of the white gum tree.
Flight of Yaraan: With a clash like thunder, the tree left the ground and flew swiftly towards the southern skies. The man and the woman could still see the eyes of Yowi – and the eyes of their companion.
Endless Search: Uttering unearthly screeches, two Mooyi – yellow crested cockatoos – flew after the tree which had been their roosting place.
Entrance to Warrambool (Parts I and II): At last, the tree came to rest at the entrance to Warrambool – the Milky Way – the world of the Sky Gods. The tree slowly vanished but the four eyes remained staring down at the Earth and forever marking the entrance to the World of the Gods. Thus Yaraandoo – the Southern Cross – was formed and the North and South points are the faithful Mooyi who fly in vain after the great white tree.
Tears of Blood – Endless Weeping: Knowing that Death had come to the Earth, the gum trees wept tears of blood and the swamp trees forever moan their sad song.